I have ALWAYS been a fan of all sorts of body mods. I've looked up pictures, read stories and history, all that, for as long as I can remember. My parents on the other hand, are not fans of body mods. They're both from a generation where tattoo's and piercings are synonymous with "low class" and "rebellion." Bringing up the topic is usually asking for a long, drawn out conversation, which usually will end in frustration on all ends. Furthermore, my mother is Jewish and is of the believe that you are, according to the Jewish faith, supposed to be "buried as you are born." I've done all the research I can to prove try to expand her idea's on the topic, but it's always been decently futile.
At A Glance Author Lellie Contact Lellie@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist I cant remember the guy's name! Studio Golden Lotus Location Oneonta, NY Upon entering college, I used the newly found freedom and space to get the piercings that I normally would not have been able to get. However, until October of 2006, they were all either on my ears or my belly button. I had, FOREVER, wanted to get a vertical labret piercing because I thought it was so beautiful and, personally, felt as though it would highlight features of my face that I actually like. Due to my parents SEVERE objections to any sort of piercing on the face, I had never dreamed that I would actually get it done. Despite everything my friends said to me about just doing it, I'm adult now and they can't control me, the thought of defying my parents to that extent just never seemed like something I want to do. The relationship I have with my parents is EXTREMELY important to me, and I wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize it.
But then again, college is college. I knew that between October and November I would have a long period of time where I wouldn't see my family, and I decided that maybe I could be stealth-y enough to get this piercing and then find different ways to hide it when around my parents. I can dream, right?
So, the day after my return to campus, I made the short trek to Golden Lotus, personally the only tattoo/piercing studio in Oneonta, NY that I will go to, after having not-so-wonderful results from Lollipop. I had gotten several piercings there already, and new the procedure and supplies the guy would use. I wouldn't say that I have a low threshold for pain per-say... But having gone alone and not knowing what to expect did make me a tad jittery.
I laid down on the bed, and waited while he [what is his name?!?!??!] prepared all of the tools and cleaning supplies. And then it was time. He clamped my lip, told me to breathe in slowly, and stuck the needle through my lip. I'm not going to lie, despite everything that was in the way and preventing speech, I some how managed to murmur an "ouch." It definitely hurt, but it could have been much, much worse than it was. It was more the immediate swelling and throbbing that bothered me than the actual piercing itself. I decided to lay on the bed for a couple of minutes after the fact because there's nothing worse than getting up, feeling faint, and collapsing on a sidewalk with no one around to help hold you up.
Fast-forward to Thanksgiving vacation. I've had my piercing for about 2 months at this point, and I'm under the delusion that I can just keep taking out the barbell in my lip when I'm around my parents, and then sliding it back in when I'm alone or with friends. For the first couple of days, this was working. It was painful, and probably more trouble than it was worth, but I loved my piercing and didn't want to lose it. I knew it wasn't healed and if I left the barbell out for too long, it would close right up. Unfortunately, I am not the most organized of people, and I lost the barbell. The carpet ate it. At first I tried to find something I could put in it's place until I could make it to a store to find a replacement, but it was no use. The piercing close up, and now I've got a small red mark under my lip, and a lovely bit of scar tissue in my lip. Do I regret getting the piercing in the first place? Absolutely not. I felt almost empowered in a sense when I got it; like I was able to make a decision for myself and not let other's control my decision-making. In fact, I'm hoping that at some point I'll get my lip repierced and hopefully be able to keep it for a long time. My only regrets about this experience are not being able to share it with my family, because I do think that my mom would have found it at least a little attractive, and not having spare barbells at hand. But, you live and you learn.